Middle East investor counsel for Colombia
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. provides US legal counsel to Middle East investors pursuing business opportunities in Colombia. The firm, founded in 1997, is a US law firm with an international clientele. For matters involving Colombian law, the firm collaborates with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted to practice law in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar; his role is limited to Colombia-law matters in collaboration with the US-admitted attorneys of the firm. All US-law aspects are handled by Mr. Sris and the US-admitted attorneys of the firm.
US legal framework for cross-border investment into Colombia
Middle East investors structuring a Colombia-facing venture through a US entity must navigate US securities, anti-corruption, and tax laws. The Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 govern any offering of securities to US investors, even when the underlying asset is in Colombia. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) applies to US issuers, domestic concerns, and certain foreign persons acting in US territory, and it reaches payments made to Colombian officials if the transaction has a US nexus. US tax considerations—including the controlled foreign corporation rules and the US-Colombia income tax treaty—may affect the choice of entity and the repatriation of profits. The firm advises on these US-law dimensions, coordinating with Colombia counsel on the Colombian-law side.
Immigration options for the investor and key personnel are another US-law component. Depending on the structure, the investor may qualify for an EB-5 immigrant investor visa if the US enterprise creates the requisite number of jobs, or an L-1 intracompany transferee visa for executives or managers of a qualifying organization. The firm handles the preparation and filing of these petitions before USCIS and the Department of State, while the Colombia Of Counsel addresses any Colombian immigration or corporate formalities required for the underlying investment.
How Mr. Sris and the Of Counsel network handle these matters
Mr. Sris, the firm’s founder and managing attorney, leads the US-law side of every engagement. He is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. For the Colombian-law dimension, the firm works with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted to practice law in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar; his role is limited to Colombia-law matters in collaboration with the US-admitted attorneys of the firm. The two sides maintain strict jurisdictional separation: the US-admitted attorneys handle all US regulatory, securities, tax, and immigration work, while Mr. Duport Jaramillo handles Colombian corporate formation, local regulatory approvals, and Colombian tax matters.
The collaboration is structured to avoid any unauthorized practice of law. No attorney in the firm or its Of Counsel network practices law in a jurisdiction where they are not admitted. When a matter requires both US and Colombian legal work, the firm engages Mr. Duport Jaramillo as independent Colombian counsel, and the client receives advice from each attorney within their respective licensure. This model allows Middle East investors to obtain coordinated US-Colombia counsel without the delays and miscommunication that can arise when separate law firms in different countries are retained independently.
About Mr. Sris and the sriscounsel Of Counsel network
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., has practiced since 1997. He is a former prosecutor and is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. Mr. Sris testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova), the bill that became the 2019 revision to Va. Code § 20-107.3(g). His experience includes representing international clients in cross-border business, immigration, and family law matters.
Eric Duport Jaramillo serves as Of Counsel for Colombia matters. Mr. Duport Jaramillo is admitted to practice law in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar; his role is limited to Colombia-law matters in collaboration with the US-admitted attorneys of the firm. He brings a background that includes service as Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Colombia to the European Union and as Executive President of the Pereira Chamber of Commerce. Together, Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring extensive combined legal experience to cross-border engagements.
Frequently asked questions
What US legal issues should a Middle East investor consider when investing in Colombia?
An investor using a US entity or raising capital from US sources must comply with US securities laws, the FCPA, and US tax rules. The Securities Act of 1933 requires registration or an exemption for any offer or sale of securities in the United States. The FCPA prohibits bribery of foreign officials and imposes accounting requirements on issuers. US tax law may treat a foreign corporation controlled by US shareholders as a controlled foreign corporation, subjecting certain income to current US taxation. The firm advises on these US-law obligations and coordinates with Colombia counsel on the Colombian-law aspects of the transaction.
Do I need a US attorney if my investment is entirely in Colombia?
If any part of the transaction touches the United States—such as a US-based investor, a US bank account, or a US co-investor—US legal counsel is often necessary. Even when the operating business is in Colombia, the presence of a US person or US-sourced funds can trigger US regulatory requirements. The firm evaluates the US contacts of each proposed investment and advises on the applicable US legal framework. For the Colombian-law side, the firm engages Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted to practice law in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar.
How does the firm handle the division between US law and Colombian law?
The US-admitted attorneys handle all US-law matters; the Colombia Of Counsel handles all Colombian-law matters. Mr. Sris and the US-admitted attorneys of the firm prepare US securities filings, FCPA compliance programs, US tax analyses, and US immigration petitions. Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar, handles Colombian corporate formation, local regulatory approvals, and Colombian tax matters. The two sides collaborate as needed but maintain strict jurisdictional separation to avoid any unauthorized practice of law.
What is the role of the Colombia Of Counsel?
Eric Duport Jaramillo serves as the firm’s Colombia Of Counsel, providing Colombian-law advice and serving as a liaison for international clients. He is admitted to practice law in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar; his role is limited to Colombia-law matters in collaboration with the US-admitted attorneys of the firm. His background includes diplomatic service and leadership of a major Colombian chamber of commerce, giving him insight into the Colombian business and regulatory environment. He does not provide US legal advice.
How can I contact the firm about a Middle East–Colombia investment?
You can reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 to schedule a consultation. The firm’s US-admitted attorneys will discuss the US-law dimensions of your proposed investment, and if Colombian-law work is needed, the firm will engage Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, who is admitted to practice law in Colombia and not admitted in any US state bar. Consultations are by appointment only. The firm’s principal US location is in Virginia, and it maintains a location in Pereira, Colombia, by appointment only.